104 Sir T. R Fraser and Major E. H. Elliot: ' [May 10, 



their insolubility, to employ the remaining members of the above 

 periodic groups in the present investigation. 



The considerable difference in ionic concentration both of acids and 

 of bases, for a nearly equal toxic effect, shows that such effect is not 

 hydrolytic in character, for in such a case the concentration of H + or 

 OH~ ions would be constant for each series. The relation between 

 periodic grouping and lethal character, exhibited by strong alkalies, 

 supports the view that the latter is dependent upon a chemical reaction 

 not hydrolytic in character. 



" Contributions to the Study of the Action of Sea-snake Venoms. 

 -Part I." By Sir THOMAS E. ERASER, M.D., F.E.S., Pro- 

 fessor of Materia Medica in the University of Edinburgh, 

 and Major E. H. ELLIOT, I.M.S., on Special Duty for Snake 

 Venom Besearch, under the orders of the Secretary of State 

 for India. Eeceived May 10, Eead June 9, 1904. 



(From the Pharmacology Laboratory of the University of Edinburgh.) 

 (Abstract.) 



The only important contributions to the literature of the subject 

 with which we are acquainted, are those recently made to the Eoyal 

 Society by Captain Leonard Eogers, I. M.S. 



Whilst acknowledging the value of these papers, we desire to state 

 that our work was planned before we saw them, and has in all respects 

 been independent of them. 



TJie venom used in this research were those of two species of Sea- 

 snakes : 



1. That of Enhydrina Falakadien (a) expressed in Madras by 

 Dr. Pinto from the venom glands of freshly killed large snakes and 

 sent to us in the dry state, and (b) extracted by us from the dried 

 glands of small snakes which had been collected by the same gentleman, 

 and, 



2. That of EnKydri* Curtus, prepared in the same way as the first- 

 nentioned specimen, of which, however, only a small quantity was 



procured for us by Dr. Pinto. 



The MimmumrLethal Doses of the Various Specimens of Venom, 

 1. (a) Expressed Enhydrina FalaJcadien venom : 



M.L.D. for rats = 0-00009 gramme per kilo, of body weight 

 for rabbits = 0*00006 

 for cats ~ 0-0002 



